Booking robs hero McIntyre of final place

The Dundee United goalscorer was stunned by the controversial yellow card that means he will miss the final

AMONG the good luck messages Jim McIntyre received via his mobile phone en route to Hampden Park yesterday morning was a text which also came with a warning that a caution would see him miss the Scottish Cup final. “Whatever you do today, mate,” it read, “don’t get booked.” The Dundee United striker made a mental note, but, on the hour mark referee Michael McCurry made a written one. It left McIntyre with a yellow card that had him seeing red afterwards.

With his team losing 1-0, McIntyre went for what he believed was a 50-50 ball with Simon Brown, the Hibs goalkeeper. Brown cleared and McIntyre stopped his momentum by flinging out an arm that wrapped around his opponent. Brown’s needlessly violent response saw McIntyre do little more than defend himself. McCurry later told him the booking had been for raising an arm, but did not specify whether it